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However it's expected that Radio Scotland will get rid of music to cover news and sport.

The decision was announced at the end of last year by Donalda MacKinnon, who was appointed director of BBC Scotland.

She introduced a management revamp with Ewan Angus brought in as multi-platform commissioning editor and Pauline Law heading the production division.

According to The Herald, Zycinski announced his departure in an email to staff.

He told them he was going so that MacKinnon and Angus "can make progress with their plans for a new commissioning and production structure and can start advertising any new posts that are to be created".

He wrote: “The BBC’s emphasis on contestability between in-house and independent suppliers – especially now in this multi-platform environment – doesn’t allow for a traditional Head of Radio with responsibilities for both production and commissioning.

"For me, therefore, this seems like a very good time to look for other opportunities. It’s been said that you can’t discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore, so that’s why I’ll be pursuing those opportunities outside the BBC.

"I’ll be saying goodbye in January or February and in the meantime I’ll continue to steer through the existing commissions and deal with all the regular station management and scheduling issues."

He added that listening figures were "the highest they have been for many years" and the schedule packed with "new on-air talent, new formats and with successful innovations in visualisation and social media".

He went on: "I’m absolutely confident that BBC Radio Scotland has a great future ahead and that the opportunities afforded by multi-platform working will mean exciting times for everyone. As for me, after a 24 year stretch at BBC Scotland, I feel I’ve done my time and am grateful for my forthcoming parole.”

Jeff joined the BBC in 1992 as Senior Producer in Selkirk before a move to Inverness. He returned to Glasgow in 1998 when promoted to Editor, Topical. He has been Head of Radio for BBC Scotland since January 2005.

Donalda MacKinnon paid tribute to Zycinski in an email to staff, saying: “Jeff has proved to be a passionate leader and advocate for radio broadcasting, as well as a generous and supportive colleague and member of Scotland’s Executive Board.